Thats a pain, with not knowing until next year, how are you supposed to get organised?? It must be either really popular or disorganised LOL.
I know some schools who do flat out refuse as they fill up with in area children.
It will be much harder to get in just for extra curricular and their attitude as they are not things that carry much weight with the dept. (i have got my daughter into out out of area high school so I know the system well!)
Out of curiosity are you in Sydney??